Stanley High head teacher David Tansey quits days before new term starts

A HEAD teacher has quit his post at a Southport school with just days to go until the new term starts.

David Tansey, head of Stanley High Sports College, left the school this week, with his desire to “work more directly with young people” the reason given for his decision.

Mr Tansey’s shock departure was thought to be a personal choice and parents are yet to be officially informed.

The Visiter understands staff were told about the departure in a letter, but have been banned from talking to anyone about the news.

Deputy head teacher Sandra Heath will take on Mr Tansey’s responsibilities in time for the new term which starts this Thursday (September 2).

The news will concern hundreds of parents whose children face returning to school after the summer break with little explanation for the sudden departure.

Stanley High recorded its best ever GCSE results on Tuesday.

In a statement to the Visiter, chair of Governors Dorothy Lee said: “David is keen to work more directly with young people than he can as a headteacher and will be returning to full time study to follow this ambition.

“He has enjoyed his time at the school, and hopes his successor will build on the achievements of the past five years, which included the school's best ever results this year and the transformation of its ICT facilities.

“The governors wish David every success in the future.”

Councillor David Tattersall, whose granddaughter goes to the Sports College, said he understood it was a “personal decision” by Mr Tansey.

But one parent said she was surprised by the news .

She said: “To be fair he was not the most approachable of people.

“There are a lot of parents that I know who will feel the same.”

And she questioned why no letter had been sent to parents in time for the new term.

Another parent, whose child is starting this term, said she was ‘slightly apprehensive’ about who will be running the school.

She said: “It is quite unfair to do it this way.

“He could have done it when term ended to give the school time to find a replacement.”

In January, Ofsted awarded the Marshside school a “satisfactory” rating and said although the pace of change was slow in some areas, student behaviour had improved since they last visited.